CN105723147B

CN105723147B - Uniformly illuminated light guide

Info

Publication number: CN105723147B
Application number: CN201480062111.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·尼南; 温臻智
Original assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corp
Current assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corp
Priority date: 2013-11-15
Filing date: 2014-11-12
Publication date: 2020-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 2034-11-12
Also published as: WO2015073505A1; CN105723147A8; JP2017508170A; EP3069073A1; CN105723147A; JP6306180B2

Abstract

An apparatus, comprising: a light source (110), one or more light guides (104), and a light diffuser (102) having a polymerization chamber (114) surrounded by one or more light diffusing regions (108). The one or more light diffusing regions are configured with one or more first openings as one or more entrance areas (112) to receive light from the light source; and one or more second openings as one or more exit areas (106) providing light to the one or more light guides. For illuminating the visual indicator with uniform light.

Description

Uniformly illuminated light guide

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No.61/904,949 filed on 15/11/2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to visual indicators in devices, and in particular to illuminating a visual indicator with uniform light.

Background

Modern electronic devices are a technical curiosity. Many diverse components must be integrated into a particular form factor (e.g., a very brief form factor) that presents a great appeal to the target consumer. Visual indicators are often used in such devices to not only allow the device to operate in dim or dark ambient light environments, but also to help convey a sense of high quality and technical sophistication.

Under some approaches, light from a light source, such as a Light Emitting Diode (LED), may be used to illuminate a visual indicator of the device. However, hot spots often appear in the visual indicator, so that the light is much brighter at the hot spots than elsewhere on the visual indicator. Thus, contrary to the original intent that resulted in the incorporation of a visual indicator, the device is likely to be perceived as low quality and suspicious technical tip.

To balance the light distribution on the visual indicator, the light guide may be lengthened, a lens structure may be added to the light emitter, an optical magnifying component (e.g., a fresnel lens) may be added to the light path, and so on. However, these solutions can be expensive and difficult to implement in form factors that may be limited to many tightly packaged components and other design considerations related to look and feel aspects and other aspects of the device.

The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated, issues identified with respect to one or more methods should not be considered to have been identified in any prior art based on this section.

Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

fig. 1A and 1B illustrate an example uniform illumination device. FIG. 1C illustrates light diffusion in an example uniform illumination device;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example light diffusion region;

fig. 3A to 3E illustrate example configurations of a uniform illumination apparatus;

4A-4C illustrate example uniformly illuminated visual indicators; and

fig. 5 illustrates an example hardware platform on which a computer or computing device described herein may be implemented, according to an embodiment.

Detailed Description

Example embodiments are described herein relating to uniformly illuminated visual indicators. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It may be evident, however, that the subject invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are not described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring, or obscuring the present disclosure.

Example embodiments are described herein according to the following outline:

1. overview

2. Example Uniform illumination device

3. Light diffusion and polymerization (integration)

4. Light diffusion film

5. Arrangement of uniform illumination device

6. Description of some embodiments

7. Implementation mechanisms-hardware overview

8. Equivalents, extensions, substitutions and others

1. Overview

This summary gives a basic description of some aspects of embodiments of the invention. It should be noted that this summary is not an extensive and inclusive overview of the various aspects of the embodiments. Moreover, it should be noted that this summary is not intended to be understood as identifying any particularly important aspect or element of the embodiments, nor as particularly depicting any scope of the embodiments, nor generally depicting any scope of the invention. This summary merely presents some concepts related to the example embodiments in a simplified and simplified form and should be understood only as a conceptual prelude to a more detailed description of the example embodiments that follows.

Under the techniques described herein, a combination of a light diffuser and one or more light guides may be coupled to a light source to provide uniform illumination of light for a visual indicator at the edges of the light guides. In some embodiments, the (e.g., diffuse, etc.) surface portion of the edge of the light guide that is uniformly illuminated by these techniques may serve as a visual indicator of the device.

In some embodiments, the light diffuser includes an optical cavity (e.g., air-filled, vacuum, etc.), a light transmissive medium, a light dispersing medium, a light diffusing medium, and the like, surrounded by one or more light diffusing regions. The light guide is connected to the light diffuser through one or more exit openings on the light diffusing region. The light source emits light into the light diffuser through one or more entrance openings on the light diffusing region. The light diffuser receives light from the light source that is diffused (e.g., reflected, randomized, polymerized, etc.) within an optical cavity, light transmissive medium, light dispersing medium, light diffusing medium, etc., surrounded by the light diffusing region. The light diffusing region may be highly reflective (e.g., have total internal reflection, etc.). The light is trapped in the optical cavity, light transmissive medium, light dispersing medium, light diffusing medium, etc. (e.g., different portions of the light successively converge on one another, etc.) and caused to traverse a substantially lengthened average optical path length until exiting through the exit region into the light guide. Light entering the light guide from the diffuser may be (e.g. continuously) directed in the longitudinal direction of the light guide towards the edges of the light guide to illuminate the edges as uniformly illuminated visual indicators of the device.

The light source comprises one or more light emitters, which may emit monochromatic or colored light. The amount of light from the light source (e.g., no light emission, maximum emission, medium emission level, etc.) may be controllable, for example, based at least in part on (e.g., relative to, etc.) the operating mode of the device.

The techniques disclosed herein may be used to increase light uniformity and minimize the length of the light guide with high efficiency and low cost compared to other techniques. By diffusing light within the optical cavity or light transmissive medium, a light diffuser under the techniques described herein can produce uniform light that is directed to the light guide. The actual degree of uniformity may depend in part on the relative numbers of light diffusers and light guides. In some embodiments, the larger the light diffuser, the more uniform the light exiting to the light guide becomes; accordingly, the shorter the length of the light guide can be. In some embodiments, the light diffuser may take the form of a bulb, a multi-bulb, a tube, etc. (e.g., spherical shape, polygonal shape approximating a spherical shape, etc.) to maximize the volume of the optical cavity, light transmissive medium, light dispersing medium, light diffusing medium, etc., and thus maximize the number of light reflections and diffusions therein. Accordingly, the light uniformity of the light entering the light guide from the light diffuser increases.

Further, the uniformly illuminated light guides described herein may be deployed or implemented with any of a variety of devices with potentially challenging shapes. According to the techniques described herein, expensive optical components (e.g., long light guides, special structural features for diffusion, collimating lens elements, fresnel lenses, etc.) can be avoided from being costly integrated into the light guides. The techniques described herein may be used to prevent or greatly reduce visual artifacts (e.g., hot spots or significant non-uniformities) in an illuminated visual indicator of a device. Since visual artifacts are prevented and reduced, the maximum amount of illumination on the visual indicator can be flexibly provided or controlled without sacrificing light uniformity.

In some embodiments, the light diffuser and uniformly illuminated light guide described herein may be deployed as part of or in conjunction with the chassis of the device. Any light director described herein that receives light from the light diffuser, any input light director from which the light diffuser receives light from the light source, etc. can follow the contour portion of the (follow) (e.g., juxtaposed, coextensive, co-curved, coplanar, parallel, etc.) chassis, or otherwise take a conformal shape that best fits the overall package design without causing difficulties for integration of other components in the device.

In some embodiments, the mechanisms described herein form part of an image processing system, including but not limited to: display systems, servers, studio systems, art guidance systems, image editors, color grading or mastering tools, professional reference monitors, animation systems, movie studio systems, cinema systems, cameras, TVs, broadcast systems, media recording devices, media playing devices, video projectors, screens (e.g., matte screens, grey screens, silver screens, lenticular screens, etc.), laptop computers, netbook computers, tablet computers, cellular radiotelephones, e-book readers, point-of-sale terminals, desktop computers, computer workstations, computer kiosks, or various other kinds of terminals and display units.

Various modifications to the preferred embodiments and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.

2. Example Uniform illumination device

Fig. 1A illustrates an example configuration of a uniform illumination device 100 including a light diffuser 102 having one or more light diffusion regions 108. The uniform illumination apparatus (100) further comprises one or more light guides 104, the one or more light guides 104 being connected to the light diffuser (102) by one or more exit areas 106 on one or more light diffusing regions (108). The uniform illumination device is coupled with the light source 110 through one or more entrance areas 112 on the light diffusing region (108). The light source (110) may include one or more light emitters (118) (e.g., LEDs, etc.). The light diffuser (102) includes a polymerization chamber 114 that is surrounded or substantially (e.g., except only for the entrance region 112 and the exit region 106, etc.) closed by one or more diffusion regions (108). Light received from the light source (110) is diffused (e.g., reflected, randomized, aggregated, etc.) by the aggregation chamber (114) and exits therefrom into the light guide (104). The light entering the light guide (104) is relatively uniform after being diffused by the polymerization chamber (114) and may be more or less further diffused (e.g., reflected, randomized, etc.) within the light guide (104). Finally, the relatively uniform light in the light guide (104) may be used to illuminate one or more visual indicators (116).

Fig. 1B illustrates another example configuration of the uniform illumination apparatus 100. As shown, the light guide (104) may be fan-shaped (including portions that fan out in and out of the plane represented by fig. 1B) around a portion of the circumference of the light diffuser (102). The light source (110) may be a cone shape having an opening (e.g., a hole, etc.) as an entrance area (112) to inject light into the light diffuser (102). The fan shape of the light guide (104) may not be coplanar with the cone shape of the light source (110). As shown, the light diffuser (102) is configured as a spherical shape to receive light from the light source (110-1) sideways (sideways) (e.g., perpendicular to a plane formed by the fan-shaped circumference of the light guide, substantially perpendicular to the plane, other sideways angles of incidence to the plane, etc.).

The light received by the light diffuser (102) from the light source (110) may originate from or be injected by one or more active light emitters, which may or may not be located within the light source (110). As used herein, an active light emitter may refer to a light emitter that generates light (visible or invisible). In some embodiments, the active light emitter is located outside the light source (110); light from an external active light emitter is optically guided or directed into the light source (110) by a light guiding/directing mechanism (e.g., one or more of an optical fiber, light guide, etc.). In some embodiments, the active light emitter is internal to the light source (110); light from the internal active light emitter is generated within the light source (110). The active optical emitters may be unidirectional, multidirectional, omnidirectional, etc.

The aggregation chamber (114) may be configured to diffuse and reflect light received from the light source (100) until the light exits the aggregation chamber (114) and enters the light guide (104). The polymerization chamber (114) may include an air-filled space, a vacuum-filled space, an optically transparent material, an optically dispersive material, a light transmissive material, and the like.

The light diffusing regions (108), which may be highly reflective (e.g., 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.9% reflective, etc.) may be achieved by reflective/diffusive metal surfaces, Total Internal Reflection (TIR) surfaces, reflective/diffusive optical films, other light reflective/diffusive materials, and the like. Additionally, optionally, or alternatively, the light diffusing region (108), while highly reflective, may include spatial features, enhancement structures, enhancement materials, light directing features, light diffusing features, light focusing features, or the like, which may be configured to distribute, diffuse, or direct light throughout the polymerization chamber (114).

In some embodiments, the light source (110) may be a detachably replaceable module in a uniform lighting apparatus. In some embodiments, the light source (110) is shared between two or more homogeneous lighting devices. In some embodiments, the light source (110) and some or all of the uniform illumination apparatus (100) may form a single integrated replaceable module.

For illustrative purposes only, fig. 1A and 1B depict the light diffuser (102) as having a spherical or cylindrical shape. However, in various embodiments, the light diffuser (102) may be a geometric shape including, but not limited to, any of the following shapes: rectangular shapes, polygonal shapes, curved shapes, cylindrical shapes, elliptical shapes, spherical shapes, bulbous shapes, irregular shapes, etc., so long as the light diffuser (102) comprises a polymerization chamber (e.g., 114, etc.) in which injected light can be trapped, diffused, reflected, randomized, polymerized, etc., and caused to travel (e.g., largely, evenly, etc.) an elongated random optical path within the polymerization chamber (114) to form uniform light before the light exits into a light guide integrated with the light diffuser (102).

The geometric properties of the light diffusers (e.g., 102, etc.) described herein can be selected based on several geometric design factors. Examples of geometric design factors include, but are not limited to, any of the following: the shape number, geometry, etc. of the device hosting the light diffuser; shape number, geometry, etc. of portions of the chassis of the device that may be integrated with the light diffuser; the number of shapes, geometries, etc. of the visual indicators to be illuminated; a profile of light to be routed from a light source to illuminate a visual indicator (e.g., a lighted button, etc.); light efficiency related to how much uniform light can be produced from a unit of injected light, light uniformity related to how uniformly different parts of the visual indicator should be illuminated; optical features for light diffusion, optical films, light emitters, light guide related optical components; material cost; manufacturing costs/complexity, etc. associated with molding, casting, assembly, etc.; and the like. The light diffuser (102) may be configured with a single or complex shape (e.g., one or more spheres, one or more spherical posts, etc.) that maximizes the number of reflections and thus greatly increases the optical path of the injected light.

For illustrative purposes, it has been described in fig. 1A and 1B that the light diffusion region (108) includes only one hole as an entrance region (112) to receive incident light from the light source (110). In embodiments, one, two, or more apertures may be provided on the light diffusing region (108) to receive (inject) light from the light source (110).

For purposes of illustration, it has been described in fig. 1A and 1B that the light diffusing region (108) includes only one hole as the exit region (106) to inject relatively uniform light from the light diffuser (102) to the light guide (104). In embodiments, one, two, or more apertures may be provided on the light diffusing region (108) to inject relatively uniform light from the light diffuser (102) to the light guide (104). The optical medium may be, but is not limited to being, identical throughout the exit area (106). For example, the interior volumes of the light guides (106) may all comprise the same light transmissive medium (e.g., vacuum, air, a substance transparent to one or more wavelength ranges of visible light, etc.). The inner walls of the light guide (106) may be, but are not limited to, coated with the same optical material as used in coating the inner walls of the polymerization chamber (114). The inner walls of the light guide (106) may be coated with a light reflecting layer, which may not be the same as the light reflecting layer used in coating the inner walls of the polymerization chamber (114).

3. Light diffusion and polymerization

Fig. 1C illustrates how light may be diffused (e.g., reflected, randomized, aggregated, etc.) by a light diffuser (e.g., 100 of fig. 1A, etc.) as described herein. As shown, the light diffuser (102) or the polymerization chamber (114) therein is disposed to receive incident light (120) from the light source (110) through the entrance area (112). The incident light (120) is diffused into a first plurality of light rays (122) within the light diffuser (102). A first portion of the first plurality of light rays (122) may exit through the exit region (106) into the light guide (104). A second portion of the first plurality of light rays (122) may exit the polymerization chamber (114) from the entrance area (112) back to the light source (110). The third portion of the first plurality of light rays (122) may be further diffused into a second plurality of light rays (124). The second plurality of light rays (124) may similarly include portions that exit into the light guide (104) through the exit area (106), exit back to the light source (110) through the entrance area (112), and are further diffused in the light diffuser (102).

To increase the uniformity of the first portion of the light exiting into the light guide (104), the light diffuser (102) may be configured to: a relatively large amount of light remains in the third portion of the light that will be further diffused as compared to the amount of light in other portions of the light exiting the polymerization chamber (114) from the exit region (104) or the entrance region (112). In some embodiments, the total area size of the entrance region (112) is set to be no greater than one of 30%, 25%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 5%, etc. of the total area size of the light diffusing region (108); the total area size of the exit region (106) is set to be no greater than one of 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, etc. of the total area size of the light diffusion region (108).

In some embodiments, the light source (110) is configured with a light reflective material to recycle light exiting the polymerization chamber 114 through the entrance region (112). In some embodiments, the light source (110) may be configured to: light is injected through a relatively small hole constituting the entrance area (112).

As used herein, a light guide may refer to a module having a light distribution medium for guiding light to a visible indicator (e.g., that illuminates an object visible to a user, an edge of the light guide, etc.). In some embodiments, the light guide may be configured to be fixed relative to other components in the uniform illumination devices described herein. In some embodiments, the light guide may be configured to be movable relative to other components in the uniform illumination apparatus described herein. In some embodiments, the light guides of the light guides (110) may be configured with a length comparable to the spatial dimension (e.g., length, diameter, etc.) of the polymerization chamber 114 through the entrance region (112). In some embodiments, ones of the light guides (110) may be configured with a length that is less than a spatial dimension (e.g., length, diameter, etc.) of the polymerization chamber 114 through the entrance region (112). In some embodiments, ones of the light guides (110) may be configured with a length that is greater than a spatial dimension (e.g., length, diameter, etc.) of the polymerization chamber 114 through the entrance region (112). As used herein, "length of the light guide" generally refers to the spatial dimension of the path along the longitudinal direction of the light guide (e.g., the direction in which light is directed to illuminate one or more visual indicators, etc.); the "width of the light guide" generally refers to the spatial dimension in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the light guide.

4. Light diffusion film

Fig. 2 illustrates an example diffusing structure 200 that may be disposed in an inner wall of a polymerization chamber (e.g., 114, etc.) to form one or more light diffusing regions (e.g., 108, etc.). The diffusing structure 200 includes an inner layer (202) of a light-transmitting medium (e.g., a clear plastic, an optical film transparent to visible light, etc.). One or both of the outer surfaces (204 and 206) of the inner layer (202) may be coated with a diffusive substance (e.g., white paint, super white paint, titanium oxide material, etc.) to form one or more light diffusive surfaces. For illustrative purposes, in the diffusing structure (200), the outer surfaces (204 and 206) are both light diffusing surfaces. The first outer surface (204) may be configured to face an interior of the light diffuser (102). The second outer surface (206) may be configured to be disposed proximate to an inner wall (which may be highly reflective) of the polymerization chamber (114). When light 208 is incident on the first outer surface (204), a first portion (210) of the light (208) is diffused and reflected back to the interior of the polymerization chamber (114), while a second portion (212) of the light (208) passes through the inner layer (202) and is diffused/reflected by the second outer surface (206).

In some embodiments, any light transmitted through the second outer surface (206) may be reflected back by the highly reflective walls of the aggregation chamber (114) towards the interior of the aggregation chamber (114). In some embodiments, no diffusion coating is performed at the second outer surface (206); the light may be reflected back toward the first outer surface (204) (e.g., by total internal reflection, etc.) without being diffused at the second outer surface (206).

Other ways of diffusing light may be used for the light diffusing region (108). For example, the example diffusing structure (200) may be a diffusing film, a silver coating, a diffusing layer having texture, structural features, reflective bumpy surfaces, or the like, rather than a transparent inner layer coated with a diffusing surface.

5. Arrangement of uniform illumination device

Fig. 3A-3E depict some example forms of uniform illumination devices described herein. In FIG. 3A, a uniform illumination apparatus 300-A (as represented by the uniform illumination apparatus 100 of FIG. 1A) includes a light source 310-A in the form of a tapered cylinder (as represented by the light source 110 of FIG. 1A), a light diffuser 302-A in the form of a cylinder (as represented by the light diffuser 102 of FIG. 1A), and a light guide 304-A in the form of a rectangular cylinder (as represented by the light guide 104 of FIG. 1A). In some embodiments, the light director (304-A) and the light source (310-A) are placed on the same side of the light diffuser (302-A), as shown in FIG. 3A. In some embodiments, the light guide (304-A) and the light source (310-A) are placed on different sides of the light diffuser (302-A), as shown in FIG. 3A, so long as there is no direct light path for light emitted from the light source (310-A) to traverse to the light guide (304-A) without first undergoing diffusion in the light diffuser (302-A).

In FIG. 3B, a uniform illumination apparatus 300-B (as represented by the uniform illumination apparatus 100 of FIG. 1A) includes a light source 310-B in the form of a tapered cylinder (as represented by the light source 110 of FIG. 1A), a complex form light diffuser 302-B incorporating two cylinders (as represented by the light diffuser 102 of FIG. 1A), and a light guide 304-B in the form of a rectangular cylinder (as represented by the light guide 104 of FIG. 1A). This configuration may be used to increase the uniformity of light exiting into the light guide (304-B) and provide a flexible arrangement of the light guide (304-B) and the light source (310-B). The light director (304-B) and the light source (310-B) may, but need not, be placed on different cylinders of the light diffuser (302-B). In one example, the light source (310-B) may be placed anywhere on the circumference of a first cylinder of the light diffuser (302-B), while the light guide (304-B) may be placed anywhere on the circumference of a second, different cylinder of the light diffuser (302-B), as long as there is no direct light path for light emitted from the light source (310-B) to traverse to the light guide (304-B) without first undergoing diffusion in the light diffuser (302-B). Additionally, the size and geometry of the aperture between the two cylinders may be specifically configured, optionally or alternatively, based on how much the light efficiency is targeted, how much the uniformity of the targeted light exiting into the light guide (304-B) is, etc.

The light guides described herein (e.g., in one or more of light guides 104 of FIG. 1A, etc.) can be one of a number of possible shapes (including, but not limited to, any of rectangular shapes, circular shapes, cylindrical shapes, irregular shapes, etc.). The shape may be selected for the light guide based on several geometric design factors. Examples of geometric design factors include, but are not limited to, any of the following: the shape number, geometry, etc. of the device hosting the light guide; the shape number, geometry, etc. of the portion of the chassis of the device with which the light guide may be integrated; the number of shapes, geometries, etc. of the visual indicators to be illuminated; a profile of light to be routed from a light source to illuminate a visual indicator (e.g., a lighted button, etc.); light efficiency related to how much uniform light can be produced from a unit of injected light, light uniformity related to how uniformly different parts of the visual indicator should be illuminated; optical features for light diffusion, optical films, light emitters, optical components associated with light diffusers; material cost; manufacturing costs/complexity, etc. associated with molding, casting, assembly, etc.; and the like.

FIG. 3C depicts two views of a fan-shaped profile of an example light guide 304-C interfacing with a circular profile light diffuser 302-C. The light diffuser (302-C) may be configured in a spherical shape to receive light laterally from the light source 310-C, similar to that shown in fig. 1B. The width of the light guide, e.g., as represented by light guide (304-C) (e.g., gradually expanding to form a fan, etc.), may vary along the longitudinal direction in which uniform light is directed to illuminate the edges of the light guide. The fan-shaped profile of the light guide (304-C) and the circular profile of the light diffuser (302-C) may be, but need not be, concentric, co-curved, etc. In some embodiments, the light diffusers described herein may take a spatial profile to shorten the light path to particular portions of the visual indicator, e.g., to compensate for surface light loss on those portions of the visual indicator.

FIG. 3D depicts a first arcuate profile light guide 304-D and a second arcuate profile light source 310-D interconnected by a light diffuser 302-D. The arcuate profile of the light guide (304-D) and the light source (310-D) may conform to a contoured portion of a chassis of a device that includes these lighting assemblies/modules. The light diffuser (302-D) may be configured as a spherical shape to receive light routed through the light source (310-D). The relatively uniform light randomized in the light diffuser (302-D) is further routed through the light guide (304-D) to illuminate the edge of the other side of the light guide (304-D). The longitudinal directions of the light guide 304-D and the light source (310-D) may be configured to be non-coincident with each other, thereby not creating a direct light path for light emitted from the light source (310-D) to traverse to the light guide (304-D) without first undergoing diffusion in the light diffuser (302-D).

FIG. 3E depicts an example configuration (300-E) that combines two or more homogeneous illumination devices. As shown, the two light sources 310-1 and 310-2 of the two uniform illumination devices are controlled by a common light control (326). Light sources (310-1 and 310-2) inject light into two light diffusers 302-1 and 302-2, respectively, which are circular in shape. The two light guides 304-1 and 304-2 of the fan-shaped profile interface with two light diffusers (302-1 and 302-2), respectively. As shown, each of the light diffusers (302-1 and 302-2) can be configured as a spherical shape to receive light laterally (e.g., perpendicular to a plane formed by the fan-shaped circumference of the light guide, substantially perpendicular to the plane, other lateral angles of incidence to the plane, etc.) from the light sources (310-1 and 310-2), e.g., as shown in fig. 1B. A common light control (326) (e.g., control buttons, etc.) may be provided to control the operational state (e.g., fully powered, powered with a medium light emission level, powered off, etc.) of the light sources (310-1 and 310-2) in this example configuration.

The uniform illumination apparatus described herein may be used in an audio device to avoid blurring of sound transmission in the audio device. The uniform illumination means may be used to provide a visual indicator in a manner that does not interfere with the acoustic integrity of the audio component in the audio device. The light homogenizing illumination described herein can be incorporated or incorporated into the device without significantly affecting the footprint of the device.

The visual indicators described herein may be provided as a diffusing surface (e.g., an edge or a portion of an edge having a diffusing surface, etc.) of a light guide in a uniform lighting device. The diffusing surface of the light guide can cause the edge of the light guide, or a portion thereof, to emit a uniform glow effect, as shown in fig. 4A-4C.

The visual indicators described herein may be used to convey information about the operation of the device. For loudspeaker devices, a visual indicator may be used to identify the status of a call (e.g., whether the call is silent or on hold). Due to the positioning and geometry of the light guide, the visual indicator may be clearly visible in a wide range of azimuth angles and altitudes within the room.

The light guides described herein may be inserted between different modules in an audio device or another electronic device. The light guide may or may not be a straight-sided tube-type design. In some embodiments, the light guide is curved, dished, arcuate, tapered, symmetrically shaped, asymmetrically shaped, custom shaped, irregularly shaped, or the like. The shape of the light guide may conform to the contours of the device in which the light guide is used or portions thereof.

The modules described herein between which the light guides are positioned may be any device component, system or subsystem that performs a particular function or set of functions. In one embodiment, the module may be all or part of a sound field rendering system, including a set of speakers and a speaker enclosure. In another embodiment, the module may be all or part of a sound field capture system, including a microphone array, a microphone array housing, and the like. In yet another embodiment, a module may include a user interface element (e.g., a set of one or more buttons or a touch screen) that performs a particular function or set of functions directly in response to user interaction. For example, the module may be a call mute button that, when pressed, switches the speakerphone between mute and non-mute during a conference call. In yet another embodiment, the module may be a display system for presenting images and/or video.

The visual indicators described herein may be used to convey various types of information. The information and the manner in which the information is communicated may vary depending on the implementation based on the nature of the device.

Different color or multi-color light emitters may be used with the light sources used herein to communicate different color-coded information to a user. In a telephone-type device, the light ring may illuminate one color (e.g., red, etc.) when a call is muted, another color (e.g., green, etc.) when the call is not muted, and a third color (e.g., blue, etc.) when an incoming or outgoing call supports a three-dimensional audio effect. Other colors may be used to indicate information (e.g., the operational status of the device, the type of call to which the telephonic device is connected, the quality of the audio, etc.). The intensity of light perceived by the visual indicators described herein may increase as the sound picked up by the microphone becomes louder and decrease as the sound becomes quieter. Similarly, the light intensity may be indicative of the volume level from the speaker. The uniform illumination apparatus described herein may be configured with two or more active light emitters. In some embodiments, at least two light emitters differ in color. In some embodiments, at least two light emitters may be set to different light emission states. For example, the uniform illumination device may be equipped with two or more of red light emitters, green light emitters, blue light emitters, and the like. Each of the differently colored light emitters may be set to a different light emission state from no light to maximum light. Thus, any of a variety of different light colors may be shown in the visual indicator by a uniform illumination device according to the techniques described herein.

Other lighting effects may also be applied to the visual indicators described herein to convey light effect encoding information. Without limitation, these lighting effects may be used to convey any of the above-described information (e.g., operation of the device, quality of the audio/video content, intensity/volume/brightness/vividness of the audio/video content, any other type of information responsive to inputs received by the device, etc.).

6. Description of some embodiments

In some embodiments, an apparatus, comprising: a light source; one or more light guides; a light diffuser having a polymerization chamber surrounded by one or more light diffusing regions configured with one or more first openings as one or more entrance regions to receive light from the light source and one or more second openings as one or more exit regions to provide light to the one or more light guides.

In an embodiment, the light source comprises one or more active light emitters. In an embodiment, the light source propagating source light from one or more active light emitters is shared by the light diffuser and a second light diffuser diffusing light into one or more second light guides, and wherein the light diffuser and the second light diffuser are separate. In an embodiment, the light diffuser shares source light from the one or more active light emitters with the second light diffuser. In an embodiment, the same light emitter control sets the operational state of the one or more active light emitters from which source light is shared by the light diffuser and the second light diffuser.

In an embodiment, the one or more light guides comprise one or more diffusing surface portions as one or more visual indicators to a user of a device comprising the apparatus. In an embodiment, the one or more light guides illuminate one or more components representing one or more visual indicators to a user of a device comprising the apparatus.

In an embodiment, the polymerization chamber is filled with a light transmissive medium. In an embodiment, the light transmissive medium is one or more of air, a vacuum, an optical medium transparent to at least one wavelength range of visible light, or an optical medium diffusive to at least one wavelength range of visible light.

In an embodiment, the light received from the light source is emitted from at least one of: light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFLs), quantum dot based light converters, Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs), fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps or gas discharge lamps.

In an embodiment, the apparatus is configured to: adjusting the amount of light received from the light source from no light to a maximum light.

In an embodiment, the total area size of the one or more entrance areas represents a certain percentage value of the total area size of the one or more light diffusing areas, the certain percentage value being in a value range of 0.1-49%. In an embodiment, the total area size of the one or more exit areas represents a specific percentage value of the total area size of the one or more light diffusing regions, the specific percentage value being in a range of values from 1-80%.

In an embodiment, the combination of the one or more light diffusing regions, the one or more entrance regions and the one or more exit regions represents at least one of: a rectangular shape, a polygonal shape, a curved shape, a cylindrical shape, an elliptical shape, a spherical shape, a bulbous shape, or an irregular shape. In an embodiment, the combination of the one or more light diffusing regions, the one or more entrance regions and the one or more exit regions represents two or more connected bulbs, columns, tubes, etc. shapes.

In an embodiment, at least one of the one or more light diffusing regions comprises an inner transparent medium section having at least one outer light diffusing surface. In an embodiment, at least one of the one or more light diffusing regions comprises a metallic light diffusing surface. In an embodiment, at least one of the one or more light diffusing regions comprises a non-metallic light diffusing surface.

In an embodiment, light received by the light diffuser from the light source traverses through an input light guide. In an embodiment, the input light guide follows a portion of a contour of a chassis of the device.

In an embodiment, at least one of the one or more light guides follows a portion of a contour of a chassis of the device. In an embodiment, the portion of the contour of the chassis of the device is curved.

In an embodiment, a light guide of the one or more light guides is configured to: directing light entering the light guide from respective ones of the one or more exit areas along a longitudinal direction towards an edge of the light guide, and wherein at least a portion of the edge of the light guide represents a visual indicator to a user of a device comprising the apparatus. In an embodiment, the width of the light guide along the longitudinal direction is uniform. In an embodiment, a width of the light guide along the longitudinal direction is non-uniform.

In an embodiment, the apparatus is configured to prevent direct light transmission from the light source to any of the one or more light guides.

In an embodiment, the light received by the light diffuser is one or more of monochromatic light or colored light.

In an embodiment, the light diffuser and the one or more light guides form a single continuous module [ fabricated as a single piece, coated with the same material ].

In an embodiment, one or more inner surfaces of the one or more light guides are light diffusing. In an embodiment, one or more inner surfaces of the one or more light guides are light reflective.

In an embodiment, at least one of the one or more light guides is movable relative to the light diffuser.

In an embodiment, the device forms part of a chassis of an apparatus. In an embodiment, the device is part of: a handheld display device, a tablet computing device, a personal computing device, a television system, a cinema-based display system, or an outdoor display system. Note that while separate embodiments are discussed herein, any combination and/or subset of the embodiments discussed herein may be combined to form further embodiments.

7. Implementing a mechanism-hardware overview

According to one embodiment, the techniques described herein are implemented by one or more special-purpose computing devices. A special purpose computing device may be hardwired to perform the techniques, or may include a digital electronic device such as one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) or Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) that are persistently programmed to perform the techniques, or may include one or more general purpose hardware processors programmed to perform the techniques according to program instructions in firmware, memory, other storage, or a combination. Such special purpose computing devices may also incorporate custom hardwired logic, ASICs, or FPGAs with custom programming to implement the techniques. A special purpose computing device may be a desktop computer system, portable computer system, handheld device, networked device, or any other device that incorporates hardwired logic and/or program logic to implement the techniques.

For example, FIG. 5 is a block diagram that illustrates a computer system 500 upon which an example embodiment of the invention may be implemented. Computer system 500 includes a bus 502 or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and a hardware processor 504 coupled with bus 502 for processing information. The hardware processor 504 may be, for example, a general purpose microprocessor.

Computer system 500 also includes a main memory 506, such as a Random Access Memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, coupled to bus 502 for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor 504. Main memory 506 also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by processor 504. Such instructions, when stored in a non-transitory storage medium accessible to processor 504, transform computer system 500 into a special-purpose machine that is specifically executed by a device for the operations specified in the instructions.

Computer system 500 also includes a Read Only Memory (ROM)508 or other static storage device for storing static information and instructions for processor 504. A storage device 510, such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, is provided and coupled to bus 502 for storing information and instructions.

Computer system 500 may be coupled via bus 502 to a display 512, such as a liquid crystal display, for displaying information to a computer user. An input device 514, including alphanumeric and other keys, is coupled to bus 502 for communicating information and command selections to processor 504. Another type of user input device is cursor control 516, such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicating direction information and command selections to processor 504 and for controlling cursor movement on display 512. The input device typically has two degrees of freedom in two axes, a first axis (e.g., x) and a second axis (e.g., y), that allow the device to specify positions in a plane.

Computer system 500 may implement the techniques described herein using device-specific hardwired logic, one or more ASICs or FPGAs, firmware, and/or program logic that, in combination with the computer system, makes computer system 500 a special-purpose machine or programs computer system 500 as a special-purpose machine. According to one embodiment, the techniques herein are performed by computer system 500 in response to processor 504 executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained in main memory 506. Such instructions may be read into main memory 506 from another storage medium, such as storage device 510. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in main memory 506 causes processor 504 to perform the process steps described herein. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions.

The term "storage medium" as used herein refers to any non-transitory medium that stores data and/or instructions that cause a machine to operate in a specific manner. Such storage media may include non-volatile media and/or volatile media. Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device 510. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory 506. Common forms of storage media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, solid state drive, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic data storage medium, a CD-ROM, any other optical data storage medium, any physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, NVRAM, any other memory chip or cartridge.

A storage medium is different from, but may be used in combination with, a transmission medium. Transmission media participate in the transfer of information between storage media. For example, transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise bus 502. Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio wave and infrared data communications.

Various forms of media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to processor 504 for execution. For example, the instructions may initially be carried on a magnetic disk or a solid state drive of a remote computer. The remote computer can load the instructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A modem local to computer system 500 can receive the data on the telephone line and use an infra-red transmitter to convert the data to an infra-red signal. An infra-red detector can receive the data carried in the infra-red signal and appropriate circuitry can place the data on bus 502. Bus 502 carries the data to main memory 506, and processor 504 retrieves and executes the instructions from main memory 506. The instructions received by main memory 506 may optionally be stored on storage device 510 either before or after execution by processor 504.

Computer system 500 also includes a communication interface 518 coupled to bus 502. Communication interface 518 provides a two-way data communication coupling to a network link 520, network link 520 connecting to a local network 522. For example, communication interface 518 may be an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) card, cable modem, satellite modem, or a modem to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. As another example, communication interface 518 may be a Local Area Network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN. Wireless links may also be implemented. In any such implementation, communication interface 518 sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams representing various types of information.

Network link 520 typically provides data communication through one or more networks to other data devices. For example, network link 520 may provide a connection through local network 522 to a host computer 524 or to data equipment operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 526. ISP526 in turn provides data communication services through the world wide packet data communication network now commonly referred to as the "Internet" 528. Local network 522 and internet 528 both use electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams. The signals through the various networks and the signals on network link 520 and through communication interface 518, which carry the digital data to and from computer system 500, are transmission media in the example form, with communication interface 518 carrying the digital data.

Computer system 500 can send messages and receive data, including program code, through the network(s), network link 520 and communication interface 518. In the Internet example, a server 530 might transmit a requested code for an application program through Internet 528, ISP526, local network 522 and communication interface 518.

The received code may be executed as it is received, and/or stored in storage device 510, or other non-volatile storage for later execution.

8. Equivalents, extensions, substitutions and others

In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to numerous specific details that may vary from implementation to implementation. Thus, the sole and exclusive indicator of what is the invention, and is intended by the applicants to be the invention, is the set of claims that issue from this application, in the specific form in which such claims issue, including any subsequent correction. Any definitions expressly set forth herein for terms contained in such claims shall govern the meaning of such terms as used in the claims. Hence, no limitation, element, property, feature, advantage or attribute that is not expressly recited in a claim should limit the scope of such claim in any way. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Claims

1. A uniform light emitting apparatus for visually indicating an operation state of a device to a user, comprising:

a light source comprising one or more active light emitters configured to generate light;

one or more light guides, at least one of which is a visual indicator coupled to a chassis of the apparatus, wherein the uniform light emitting apparatus is configured to indicate an operational state of the device with various colors and/or intensities of the generated light to distinguish at least three different operational states of the device;

a light diffuser having a polymerization chamber surrounded by one or more light diffusing regions configured with one or more first openings as one or more entrance regions to receive light from the light source and one or more second openings as one or more exit regions to provide light to the one or more light guides with increased light uniformity,

wherein the total area size of the one or more exit areas is set to a certain percentage value of the total area size of the one or more light diffusing regions such that a relatively large amount of light remains further diffused within the polymerization chamber compared to the amount of light exiting the polymerization chamber from the exit areas or entrance areas, and

wherein a light guide of the one or more light guides is configured to: directing light entering the light guide from respective ones of the one or more exit areas along a longitudinal direction towards an edge of the light guide, and wherein at least a portion of the edge of the light guide represents a visual indicator to a user of a device comprising the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the uniform light emitting apparatus is configured to indicate a quantified operational state of the device with a corresponding intensity of the generated light.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises two or more active light emitters, and wherein at least two of the two or more active light emitters differ in color.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises two or more active light emitters, and wherein at least two of the two or more active light emitters are settable to different light emission states.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source that propagates source light from one or more active light emitters is shared by the light diffuser and a second light diffuser that diffuses light into one or more second light guides, and wherein the light diffuser and the second light diffuser are separate.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light diffuser shares source light from one or more active light emitters with the second light diffuser.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the same light emitter control sets an operating state of the one or more active light emitters from which source light is shared by the light diffuser and the second light diffuser.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more light guides comprise one or more diffusive surface portions as one or more visual indicators to a user of a device comprising the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more light guides illuminate one or more components representing one or more visual indicators for a user of a device comprising the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the polymerization chamber is filled with a light-transmissive medium.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light-transmissive medium is one or more of an optical medium that is transparent to at least one wavelength range of visible light or an optical medium that is diffusive to at least one wavelength range of visible light.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light received from the light source is emitted from at least one of: cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFLs), quantum dot based light converters, Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs), incandescent lamps or gas discharge lamps.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to adjust the amount of light received from the light source from no light to a maximum light.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a total area size of the one or more entrance areas is set to a particular percentage value of the total area size of the one or more light diffusing areas, the particular percentage value being in a range of values from 0.1-49%.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a combination of the one or more light diffusing regions, one or more ingress regions, and one or more egress regions represents at least one of: polygonal shape, curved shape.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a combination of the one or more light diffusing regions, one or more ingress regions, and one or more egress regions represents two or more connected shapes.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more light diffusing regions comprises an inner transparent medium segment having at least one outer light diffusing surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more light diffusing regions comprises a metallic light diffusing surface.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more light diffusing regions comprises a non-metallic light diffusing surface.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein light received by the light diffuser from the light source traverses through an input light guide.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a width of the light guide along the longitudinal direction is uniform.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a width of the light guide along the longitudinal direction is non-uniform.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to prevent direct light transmission from the light source to any of the one or more light guides.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the light received by the light diffuser is one or more of monochromatic or colored light.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light diffuser and the one or more light guides form a single continuous module.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more interior surfaces of the one or more light guides are light diffusing.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more interior surfaces of the one or more light guides are light reflective.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more light guides is movable relative to the light diffuser.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light-transmissive medium is one or more of air, vacuum.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light received from the light source is emitted from at least one of: light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), fluorescent lamps.

31. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a combination of the one or more light diffusing regions, one or more ingress regions, and one or more egress regions represents at least one of: rectangular shape, cylindrical shape, elliptical shape, spherical shape, bulbous shape, or irregular shape.

32. An electronic device comprising the apparatus of any of claims 1-31, wherein the apparatus forms part of a chassis of the electronic device.

33. An electronic device comprising the apparatus of any of claims 1-31, wherein the electronic device is at least one of: a tablet computing device, a personal computing device, a television system, a cinema-based display system, or an outdoor display system.

34. An electronic device comprising the apparatus of any of claims 1-31, wherein the electronic device is a handheld display device.

35. An electronic device comprising the apparatus of claim 20, wherein the input light guide follows a portion of a contour of a chassis of the electronic device.

36. An electronic device comprising the apparatus of any of claims 1-31, wherein at least one of the one or more light guides follows a portion of a contour of a chassis of the electronic device.

37. The electronic device of claim 35 or 36, wherein the portion of the contour of the chassis of the electronic device is curved.